True to its title the garden is a synthesis of traditional Japanese plants such as Rhododendrons, Maples, Iris and Wisteria, but planted in a typical English style, amongst carpets of soft moss and white sand with wave crest patterns drawn in to it depicting the "Sei-Kai-Ha"
There wasn’t anything Japanese about the fencing Ms Yamada chose for the garden this year; she has a long standing relationship with the English fencing company, Jacksons Fencing, being familiar with Jacksons high quality materials, 25 year guarantee and ability to provide bespoke solutions. After spotting their new Venetian panels, introduced to the range last year, Kay Yamada decided they would be perfect for inclusion in her ambitious Chelsea design.
The Venetian panels have proved extremely popular with customers of Jacksons and were featured in a medal winning garden last year at Hampton Court flower show by the Garden Friendly Brothers.
There is a twist here however; Garden Friendly chose the Venetian for their strong horizontal pales as a contrast to their planting; Kay Yamada liked the panels, but wanted a 90 degree spin, so the pales would run vertically, as a perfect foil to her effusion of soft pinks, deep purple flowers and diverse foliage from feathery ferns and weeping willows. The attraction of the Venetian panels was to allow soft strips of light to gradually infuse the garden, something that cannot happen with a solid fence.
The modern fusion of Eastern and Western styles worked to great effect and the garden was much admired by visitors to Chelsea. There is a message to be conveyed in this; after the show the whole garden will be recreated using all materials, apart from the plants, at the soon to be opened Barakura English Garden in Yokohama exhibition, this garden is to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of Yokohama port and the trade alliance between England and Japan, the campaign is called "Yokoso! Japan!" (Visit Japan!).
So a final thought on the Venetian panels, which do you prefer, running horizontally as they were originally designed to do, or are you going to take them for a spin? "At Jacksons we pride ourselves in endeavouring to give our customers what they want, we always try to make the answer ‘Yes’. So if the Venetians are requested as verticals customers will get what they want, we designed them that way especially for Kay Yamada and we’ll do it again if any of our other customers ask too." Richard Jackson CEO of Jacksons said.
